SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs is the first official online game for the PlayStation 2 and has been rapidly gaining a following since its release. You have the option of playing against the computer or playing online with others if you have a Sony Network Adapter. The game places you in control of the leader of a team of Navy SEALs that must complete a series of missions. The ultimate object is to eliminate the terrorists, which may account for some of its popularity in the current political environment. Specific missions include assignments like rescuing a hostage, planting a bomb, or penetrating an enemy camp without being seen, and the environments range from boats and cities to the jungle, snow-covered terrain and desert.
You are able to control the actions of the three other SEALs on your team by speaking into the headset that's included with the game. I found this to be a very cool aspect of the game, even though occasionally my teammates did not respond as I'd hoped. I still enjoyed yelling such commands as "Fire at will!" and -- my personal favorite -- "Breach, bang and enter!" You'll hear their responses and also get instructions from base camp about your mission through the headset.
The major appeal of this game is the fact that it can be played online, if you have the adapter. However, getting your hands on an adapter is easier said than done, unless you don't mind paying twice the retail price at Ebay. The first shipment was gobbled up by eager PS2 fans in August, and the stores still are having trouble restocking them.
Once you've got the adapter set up, you just follow the prompts to bring your game online and select your options. When online, you can choose from three different types of games: Suppression (team deathmatch), Extraction (rescuing a hostage) and Demolition (bombing a target).
I enjoyed the online experience, but found trying to organize and position the other members of my team a little daunting. Luckily, you can still have a great time creeping through the jungle and shooting terrorists without them. One drawback is that in multi-player mode, you can only talk to the members on your team. And if you die, you can only talk to other dead people while you wait for the round to finish
